The situation where the screen of Xiaomi smartphone continues to burn during a phone call is familiar to many owners of devices based on MIUI. It is not just a minor nuisance distracting from the conversation, but a serious problem leading to accidental taps, turn on the speakerphone or even complete the call with the cheek. Unlike other brands where the proximity sensor is often carried out in a separate module, in Xiaomi smartphones it is usually hidden under the display glass, making it sensitive to any external factors.
The main reason is because the Proximity Sensor is working, and this tiny component is constantly analyzing the distance to the object, and if the software gets the wrong indication that the phone is far from the face, it prevents the screen from going out, and often users are faced with this after updating the firmware, pasting the protective film, or physically striking the device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail why Xiaomi phone does not go out when you hold it to your ear, and we will look at the solutions from simple cleaning to engineering calibration. Understanding the way the sensor works will help you quickly diagnose the problem without going to the service center. 90% of the time the problem is solved by software calibration or replacing the protective glass with a thinner one.
Principle of operation and main causes of failures
The proximity sensor in today's Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO is an infrared emitter and receiver that emits an invisible beam and reads the reflected signal. When you hold the phone to your ear, the beam bounces off the skin, and the system blocks the touchscreen and extinguishes the display. However, if there is an obstacle in the path of the beam, the sensor "thinks" that the object is still far away and the screen remains active.
The most common reason is incompatibility of protective glasses or films. Accessories manufacturers often cut out under the speaker, but forget that the sensor can be displaced or have a large sensitivity area. Thick glass or the presence of decorative edging ("black frame") blocks the IR beam. Also affected by pollution of the upper part of the screen: fat, dust or pile in the case creates a constant interference.
⚠️ Warning: Using cheap security glasses with an opaque bezel is the main reason why Xiaomi phone doesn't go out when you hold it to your ear.
Software failures in the MIUI shell also play a role: after the system update, the sensor settings may get lost, or the background process may not properly process data from the equipment. In rare cases, the problem lies in the physical damage to the plume or the sensor module itself after a fall.
Diagnostics: checking the serviceability of the sensor
Before you start to do complex manipulations, you need to make sure that the sensor is physically fit and just needs to be tuned. There's a built-in engineering menu in MIUI to test all the components of the device, and that's the first step to see if the system sees the object approaching at all.
To start the diagnosis, open the Phone app and dial the special code ##6484##. This will open the CIT (Customer Information Test) menu. In the test list, find the Proximity Sensor or Approximation Sensor. Click on it to start checking.
In the window that opens, you'll see two distances: Close the top of the screen with your palm (simulating a conversation) and remove it. The numbers should change: when the hand is close, the value is minimal (usually 0.0 or 5.0 cm), when far is maximum (usually 5.0 or 100.0 cm).
- 📱 If the values change sharply and clearly - the sensor is serviceable, the problem is in the calibration or software.
- 📉 If the values "download" or do not change at all - it is possible that the sensor is contaminated or defective.
- 🔍 If the test shows Fail constantly, you need to replace the module or solder the plume.
What if the code doesn't work?
Calibration of the proximity sensor: step-by-step instructions
If testing shows that the sensor is responding but not correctly (e.g., it only turns off the screen when the phone is pressed close, not 1-2 cm away), calibration is necessary. This is a system "learning" process where you set reference values for "close" and "far".
Return to the CIT menu (#6484##) and select "Proximity Sensor." At the bottom of the screen, there should be a "Calibration" button. Place your phone on a flat horizontal surface, making sure there is nothing above the top of the screen (the distance should be more than 20 cm).
After successful calibration, the phone will vibrate and the log will show a message "Pass." If you see Fail, repeat the procedure, making sure that there is no bright direct light in the room that can interfere with the IR sensor, and that the phone is completely stationary.
☑️ Checklist of correct calibration
There is also an alternative method through a hidden menu if standard calibration doesn't work. In the Phone app, dial ##855## (not working on all models). If the menu opens, select "Proximity Sensor Calibration" and follow the instructions on the screen, closing and opening the sensor as commanded by the system.
MIUI settings and system solutions
Sometimes the problem lies not in software conflicts or specific settings of the MIUI shell. In recent firmware versions, Xiaomi has implemented a feature called “Mode in the pocket”, which uses an accelerometer and a proximity sensor to lock the screen. If this function works incorrectly, it can block the normal screen quenching during a conversation.
Try disabling this feature. Go to Settings → Lock and Protection → Mode in your pocket and turn off the switch. This action often solves the problem of false positives or, conversely, the lack of response of the screen. It is also worth checking the theme settings: some third-party themes from the MIUI store may not properly handle sensor events.
| Setting up | Where to find out. | Recommended value | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket mode. | Settings → Blocking | Off. | Removes accelerometer conflicts |
| Autobrightness | Notification curtain | On/off (test) | Sometimes it affects the work of light sensors. |
| Dark subject matter | Settings → Screen | Standard. | Third-party topics can glittle |
| Memory extensions | Settings → About the phone | Turn off (test) | Reduces the system load |
Another important aspect is cleaning the cache of the Phone app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone → Memory → Clear. This will delete temporary files that may have caused a malfunction in the processing of incoming / outgoing calls.
💡
If you use a third-party caller (like Google Phone or Truecaller), make sure it has all the necessary permissions to work with sensors and display on top of other windows.
Physical factors: films, covers and pollution
You can't ignore the physical condition of the top of your smartphone. Even a microscopic layer of fat or dust above the speaker can scatter the IR radiation of the sensor, creating a "phantom" presence of the object. Regularly wiping this area with a microfiber with alcohol (carefully so that it doesn't get into the speaker) is a mandatory procedure.
Cases are another common culprit. If the case has high sides or a narrowed neckline on top, it can overlap the sensor when you hold the phone to your ear and slightly change the angle of inclination. Take off the case and check the phone's naked. If the problem is gone, find a more suitable accessory.
⚠️ Attention: Hydrogel films are often thicker than glass counterparts and can completely block the proximity sensor on Xiaomi. If the problem occurs after the film is pasted, remove it to check.
In some cases, a radical but effective method helps: removing the factory film from the screen, if it is still left. Factory films often have low transparency in the IR spectrum, replacing them with quality glass with accurate cutouts (or without a black frame at the edges) solves the problem in most cases.
Resetting and extreme measures
If neither calibration, cleaning, or replacement of accessories helped, and the Xiaomi phone still does not go out when you bring it to your ear, there is a software reset option, which will return all system settings to factory values, eliminating any deep conflicts in the system configuration.
Before you do this, make sure to back up all your important data, as the information from your internal memory will be deleted. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all the data. Once you reboot, the phone will be as new and the sensor should work correctly.
In the rarest cases where even a complete reset doesn't work, it could be a hardware malfunction, which could be a retiring sensor plume (often after falls) or a failure of the sensor module itself, which would require disassembling the device and replacing the component in the service center.
💡
If after a complete reset and replacement of the protective glass sensor does not work - it is 100% hardware breakdown, requiring repair in the service.